Choose Dead Matter
Choose Dead Matter if you want an Action and RPG game with Multi-player, Online PvP, and Online Co-op. On Steam, it has co-op, so you can bring a friend. Dead Matter launched in 2023.
Dead Matter vs Zombie Lab
Dead Matter and Zombie Lab both land in Indie, Simulation, Early Access on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both share Indie, Simulation, Early Access on Steam. Dead Matter (2023) is 3 years older than Zombie Lab (2026). Dead Matter has co-op; Zombie Lab does not. No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Which should you pick?
Choose Zombie Lab
Choose Zombie Lab if you want a Casual game with Playable without Timed Input and #category_playable_at_your_own_pace. On Steam, it's the newer release (2026) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Zombie Lab launched in 2026.
Both Dead Matter and Zombie Lab sit in Indie, Simulation, and Early Access on Steam, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Use the side-by-side table for the feature view, or follow the "Games like" links below to see ranked alternatives for either title.
Side-by-side comparison
 Dead Matter |  Zombie Lab | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2023 | 2026 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Simulation, RPG, Early Access | Indie, Simulation, Casual, Early Access |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Unsupported | Unrated |
| Price | 19.99 USD | Price unknown |
| Steam reviews | 26.8% positive (205 reviews) | — |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op | Single-player only |
| Developers | QI Games | Outlaw Games |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Simulation, Early Access on Steam.
- Dead Matter (2023) is 3 years older than Zombie Lab (2026).
- Dead Matter has co-op; Zombie Lab does not.
- Dead Matter is Deck Unsupported on Steam Deck; Zombie Lab has no Deck rating yet.
Dead Matter vs Zombie Lab — FAQ
- Should I play Dead Matter or Zombie Lab first?
- If you want chronology, Dead Matter (2023) came out before Zombie Lab (2026). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
- Are Dead Matter and Zombie Lab similar?
- They overlap on Indie, Simulation, Early Access on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.
- Does Zombie Lab have multiplayer like Dead Matter?
- No. Dead Matter supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op), while Zombie Lab is listed as single-player only.